Bundle Box and Instrument Roll

ABSTRACT

A tray system has a tray with a top surface and a plurality of wells arranged side-by-side. Each well is adapted to receive an end portion of a ringed instrument and to hold the ringed instrument in an on-edge fashion on the top surface of the tray. The tray system further includes a removable instrument roll supported by the tray and fully detachable and removable from the tray. The removable instrument roll is disposed above the plurality of wells when supported by the tray. The removable instrument roll has opposing spatially separated endplates and one or more cross members, each cross member connected to both endplates. At least one cross member is adapted to engage a handle of each ringed instrument disposed in one of the wells and to spread that ringed instrument into an open position when the tray supports the instrument roll.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/453,310, filed on Mar. 16, 2011, titled “Bundle Box and Instrument Roll,” the entirety of which application is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to instrument tray systems for holding surgical instruments during collection, transportation, washing, sterilization, and counting procedures. Specifically, the invention relates to devices for spreading and holding the handles of ringed instruments apart in such instrument tray systems.

BACKGROUND

Hospitals and other surgical units use a wide variety of surgical instruments. Properly managing these instruments is an important responsibility of any surgical staff. The instruments require collection, effective washing and sterilization, storage, transportation to and from points of use, and organized presentation for ready use during surgical procedures. Any one of these tasks can be cumbersome or time consuming. Hence, surgical staffs are often looking for ways to improve their efficiency and effectiveness when attending to these tasks.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention features a tray system comprising a tray having a top surface and a plurality of wells arranged side-by-side. Each well is adapted to receive an end portion of a ringed instrument and to hold the ringed instrument in an on-edge fashion on the top surface of the tray. The tray system further comprises a removable instrument roll supported by the tray and fully detachable and removable from the tray. The removable instrument roll is disposed above the plurality of wells when supported by the tray. The removable instrument roll has opposing spatially separated endplates and one or more cross members, each cross member connected to both endplates. At least one cross member is adapted to engage a handle of each ringed instrument disposed in one of the wells and to spread that ringed instrument into an open position when the tray supports the instrument roll.

In one aspect, the invention features a fully detachable instrument roll comprising a pair of opposing spatially separated endplates adapted to detachably and removably couple to a ringed-instrument carrying tray. The instrument roll further comprises means, connected to both endplates, for engaging a handle of a two-handled ringed instrument and spreading that ringed instrument into an open position when the endplates are connected to the tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of this invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of an instrument roll for keeping a plurality of ringed instruments in an open position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a tray system including a tray and the instrument roll of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the tray system filled with surgical instruments.

FIG. 4 shows a sterilization box (also referred to as a bundle box) that can be used in conjunction with the tray system.

FIG. 5 is an elevated isometric view the bundle box with a top panel opened, revealing a compartment for holding items.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the bundle box aligned with the tray system.

FIG. 7 is another exploded view of the bundle box in alignment with the tray system.

FIG. 8 is another isometric view of the bundle box having an alternative means for securing the instrument roll in place after the bundle box is coupled to the tray system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Devices described herein facilitate the sterilization and use of surgical instruments, the kinds used by surgeons and dentists in hospitals, surgical units, and dental facilities. In particular, the devices cooperate with a multipurpose surgical instrument tray to hold one or more ringed instruments in an open position for the sterilization process. Examples of ringed instruments include, but are not limited to, clamps, forceps, scissors, shears, and tongs. Each ringed instrument is generally a hand-operated tool with a pair of blades and ringed handles attached at a pivot. For some ringed instruments, the ringed handles may not be full rings, but arcuate shapes that accommodate a person's finger. Such instruments are intended to be encompassed by the general term ringed instrument. When in an open position, the blades (i.e., functional end) of the ringed instrument are apart, exposing more surface area of each blade than would be if otherwise closed, and thereby advancing sterilization.

In brief overview, the devices have opposing, spatially separated endplates adapted for connecting the device to the instrument tray. Such a connection is detachable, and the device can be fully separated from the instrument tray. This detachability facilitates the washing and sterilizing of the device separately from the instrument tray and instruments, should the need arise. The devices are made of an endurable material capable of withstanding sterilization environments (e.g., autoclaves). Examples of such materials include, but are not limited to, metals (e.g., aluminum), metal alloys (e.g., stainless steel), and various plastics.

In one embodiment, the devices have multiple rigid rods or bars, each rod connected at both of its ends to these endplates. Advantageously, a rod can provide a “lip” over which a ring of an instrument handle can hang, which helps hold the ringed instrument in place. In addition, the rods can be equidistant from each other, for example, each rod connecting corresponding corners of the two endplates, such that the device is symmetric, having an appearance of open-sided box, each rod defining an edge of the box. These equidistant rods make use of the device intuitive, allowing the user to place the device on the tray in any of the four possible positions, because any two rods can face the ringed instruments when the device slid between the handles of the ringed instruments and connected to the tray. In addition, rods, in contrast to solid or perforated sidewalls, are more favorable to the sterilization process, posing less obstruction to the passage of steam used to sterilize the ringed instruments.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a device 10 for keeping a plurality of ringed instruments in an open position, for example, during a sterilization process, by spreading the handles of the ringed instruments. This embodiment, hereafter referred to as an instrument roll 10, has two opposing spatially separated, generally rectangular rigid endplates 12-1, 12-2 (generally, 12), joined at their corners by four connecting rods 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, and 16-4 (generally, 16). The instrument roll 10 defines a generally elongate 3-D rectangular shape, the four rods 16 providing the elongate sides of the rectangle and the endplates 12 defining its ends. The rods are equidistant from each other; that is, the separation between any two rods on a side is the same as that of every other pair of rods (except diagonals). This instrument roll 10 is generally symmetrical in shape—any one of its four sides can be used to face and spread the handles of the ringed instruments.

Other embodiments of the instrument roll can be fashioned. For example, instead of rods 16, a rectangular box with four solid or perforated sides can be used to separate the handles of ringed instruments. As other examples, an instrument roll with only one or two horizontal rods, such as 16-1 and/or 16-2, can be sufficient to spread the handles. As still another example, a one-sided box (i.e., one solid perforated side separating the two end plates 12) can operate as the means for keeping the ringed instruments open. Further, the principles described herein can extend to instrument rolls of other shapes, for example, cylindrical and triangular.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of a tray system 18 including a tray 20 and the instrument roll 10. A similar tray is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,041, issued Jul. 30, 2002, the entirety of which patent is incorporated by reference herein. The tray 20 can have a channel 22 that spans much of the tray's width, dividing the tray into a major portion 24A and a minor portion 24B. The major portion 24A has recesses 26 of various shapes. The minor portion 24B has a plurality of parallel slots or wells 28 separated by dividers 30. The wells 28 are disposed side by side and almost span the full width of the tray 20. Each well 28 is adapted to receive on end a ring of a ringed instrument. In some embodiments of trays, these dividers 30 may be removable to alter the widths of or to reposition the wells.

At opposite ends of the set of wells 28 are two slots 32-1, 32-2 (generally, 32). The distance separating the slots 32 is equal to the distance separating the endplates 12-1, 12-2 of the instrument roll 10. Each slot 32 receives an edge of one of the two endplates 12 of the instrument roll; the instrument roll “plugs into” the slots on the tray. The instrument roll sits within these slots, with gravity assisting to keep the instrument roll connected in place to the tray. In one embodiment, the lower rods (in FIG. 2, e.g., rods 16-3 and 16-4) determine the depth to which the endplates 12 can enter the slots 32; that is, the lower rods sit on the surface of the tray. In another embodiment, the slots 32 have a predefined depth such that the bottom edge of the endplates 12 rests on the bottom of the slot 32. Rearward of the plurality of wells 28 can be a pair of tabs 34, which can help position the instrument roll 10 during installation and prevent the instrument roll 10 from sliding backwards during portage and the sterilization process.

During use of the tray 20, each ringed instrument is placed on end or perpendicularly onto the top surface 36 of the major portion 24A of the tray 20, with its ringed end entering a well 28. With the tray populated with ringed instruments, the instrument roll 10 is placed behind the row of handles and slid forward of the tabs 34 far enough to spread the handles of the ringed instruments and for its plates 12 to be inserted into the slots 32.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the tray system 18 filled with surgical instruments including a variety of ringed instruments of different lengths, shapes, and sizes. One ring of each ringed instruments sits in one of the wells 28 and the other ring of that instrument rests on one of the upper rods (here, e.g., 16-1) of the instrument roll 10. This upper rod 16-1 provides a lip for some of the rings to hang over. The rod (here, 16-2) directly below the upper rod 16-1 helps keep the other ring of each instrument in place within its well 28 (although the lower rod may not touch that ring when the instrument roll is in a resting position). Notwithstanding, gravity alone may suffice to keep the other ring within the well, and an instrument roll with only a single rod (i.e., in the position of rod 16-1 in FIG. 3) is sufficient to separate the handles of the ringed instruments. With the instrument roll in place, the separation of the rings produces a slight separation of blades at the other end of the ringed instrument. In this configuration, the instrument roll 10 prevents the ringed instruments from closing.

FIG. 4 shows a sterilization box (also referred to as a bundle box) 50 that can be used in conjunction with the tray 20 of FIGS. 2 and 3. In general, the bundle box 50 is a means for holding additional surgical instruments for sterilization process on the multipurpose surgical instrument tray 20 while holding forceps, knife handles, and ringed instruments in place. Like the tray 20, the bundle box 50 is made of a material capable of enduring sterilization environments.

The bundle box 50 has perforated sides 52 and cover 54 to allow steam to penetrate and to facilitate drying. FIG. 5 shows the bundle box 50 with the cover 54 opened, revealing a compartment 56 for holding items. The bottom 59 of the compartment 56 also has perforations and closely rests over, without touching, the surgical instruments on the tray 20, preventing them from displacing out of their recesses 26 and wells 28. Raised ribs 58 provide structural support and prevent loose items in the compartment 56 from moving about during the sterilization process.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the bundle box 50 aligned with the tray system 18. To open the box, the cover 54 pivots about an axis 60. The lower edge of the box sits on a ridge 62 that runs about the periphery of the tray 20. One end of the tray has a latch mechanism 66 for coupling to a corresponding latch mechanism 68 at one end of the box.

FIG. 7 shows another exploded view of the bundle box 50 in alignment with the tray system 18. Mounted to the interior surfaces of the sidewalls 72 of the box are L-brackets 70, one L-bracket on each sidewall 72. When the box 50 is locked to the tray 20, the brackets 70 operate to secure the instrument roll 10 in place so that the instrument roll cannot move; specifically, the horizontal surfaces of the L-brackets abut the top edges of the endplates 12 of the instrument roll 10, tightly restraining the endplates within their respective slots 32 in the tray. In addition, the contour of the bottom surface of the sterilization box is shaped to lie flush against the top surface 36 of the sterilization tray 20, which operates to enclose any instruments within their recesses. Accordingly, the bottom surface and brackets of the box ensure that all instruments remain in their respective recesses or wells, even if the combination of box and tray should be shaken, turned sideways, or upside down.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative means for securing the instrument roll 10 in place after the box 50 is coupled to the tray system 18. These securing means include a pair of indents 80 in the exterior surfaces of the sidewalls 72 of the sterilization box. When the box is locked to the tray, the indents 80 operate like the L-brackets of FIG. 7 to hold the instrument roll 10 down in place so that the instrument roll cannot move. Specifically, the interior undersides of the horizontal surfaces of the indents abut the top edges of the endplates 12 of the instrument roll, thereby tightly restraining the end plates within their respective slots in the tray.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular, feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the teaching. References to a particular embodiment within the specification do not all necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

1. A tray system, comprising: a tray having a top surface and a plurality of wells arranged side-by-side, each well adapted to receive an end portion of a ringed instrument and to hold the ringed instrument in an on-edge fashion on the top surface of the tray; and a removable instrument roll supported by the tray and fully detachable and removable from the tray, the removable instrument roll being disposed above the plurality of wells when supported by the tray, the removable instrument roll having opposing spatially separated endplates and one or more cross members, each cross member connected to both endplates, at least one cross member being adapted to engage a handle of each ringed instrument disposed in one of the wells and to spread that ringed instrument into an open position when the tray supports the instrument roll.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument roll comprises a pair of opposing spatially separated endplates, and wherein the at least one cross member includes a rod connected to both endplates.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one cross member comprises a second rod connected to both endplates, the rods being vertically aligned to and spatially separated from each other by a distance sufficient to spread the handles of each ringed instrument and to prevent each of the plurality of ringed instruments from closing.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the tray has a pair of slots separated by a distance approximately equal to a distance separating the endplates of the instrument roll, each slot closely receiving one of the endplates when the tray supports the instrument roll.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein instrument roll sits on the tray at opposite sides of the plurality of wells.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument roll is made of metal.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the instrument roll is made of plastic.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for securing the instrument roll to the tray.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the tray is perforated.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cover adapted to couple to the tray to produce a housing within which the plurality of ringed instruments are housed during sterilization.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cover includes means for securing the instrument roll in place when the cover is locked to the tray.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the securing means includes a bracket mounted to an interior surface of opposite sidewalls of the cover.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the securing means includes an indent in opposite sidewalls of the cover.
 14. A fully detachable instrument roll, comprising: a pair of opposing spatially separated endplates adapted to detachably and removably connect to a ringed-instrument carrying tray; means, connected to both endplates, for engaging a handle of a two-handled ringed instrument and spreading that ringed instrument into an open position when the endplates are connected to the tray.
 15. The instrument roll of claim 14, wherein the means for engaging the handle of a two-handled ringed instrument comprises a rod connected at its ends to both endplates.
 16. The instrument roll of claim 15, wherein the means for engaging the handle of a two-handled ringed instrument further comprises a second rod connected to both endplates, the rods being spatially separated from each other by a distance sufficient to spread the handles of the ringed instrument when placed between the handles.
 17. The instrument roll of claim 14, wherein the means for engaging the handle of a two-handled ringed instrument comprises a sidewall connected at its ends to both endplates.
 18. The instrument roll of claim 15, wherein the sidewall is perforated.
 19. The instrument roll of claim 14, wherein the means for engaging the handle of a two-handled ringed instrument comprises a cylinder connected at its ends to both endplates.
 20. The instrument roll of claim 14, wherein the endplates and means for engaging the handle of a two-handled ringed instrument are made of metal.
 21. The instrument roll of claim 14, wherein the endplates and means for engaging the handle of a two-handled ringed instrument are made of plastic. 